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Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

Atom Beers
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🌍 United Kingdom · Imperial Stout · One of 96 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Critical Temperature was aged for a month on 4 kilos of coffee beans, allowing a long and slow extraction of the essential compounds. Named after the critical temperature in thermodynamics. Atom's showpiece dark beer — coffee-forward, warming, and complex.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Full body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
coffee
roasted
chocolate
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best British Stouts

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

Appearance

Opaque dark brown to near-black in the glass, with a viscous, tan head that shows fine retention and distinct lacing. The body is dense and glossy, characteristic of the style's high gravity. Carbonation is moderate, lending a soft visual texture without excessive effervescence.

opaque dark browndense bodypersistent headmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with bold roasted malt and coffee—the latter dominant and clean, a result of the month-long extraction on whole beans. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder emerge beneath, with undertones of dried stone fruit and a subtle earthy backbone. The alcohol warmth is present but restrained, integrating without sharpness.

coffee-forwardroasted maltdark chocolatedried fruit notes

Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with roasted grain and espresso leading the palate. The mid-palate develops layered chocolate and subtle fruit character—plum and raisin—while restrained bitterness (65 IBU) provides structure without dominating. The 10% ABV sits warmly in the background, contributing richness rather than heat, and the finish carries earthy, coffee-grain dryness.

smooth entrycoffee and chocolaterestrained bitternesswarming alcohol

Finish

The aftertaste is long and dry, with lingering roasted malt and coffee notes fading slowly. A light bitter-earthy residue persists on the palate, grounding the finish without astringency.

long dry finishcoffee persistence
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
81
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, coffee, chocolate character as Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →